Always Follow the Law When Marketing Cannabis

Marketing of cannabis in Washington state is govern by laws that restricts a number cannabis-related marketing. It is therefore very important to keep up-to-date with the state’s laws which tend to change constantly. Cannabis marketing laws are strict and normally attracts a heavy penalty when not adhered to. For you to be on the save side of the law, always follow the following Cannabis Marketing laws which according to Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, all licensed cannabis producers, processors and retailers must always adhere to:

For licensed retailers– With a limited size of 1,600 square inches, the board restricts retailers from having more than two retail identification signs.

General law– This law restricts all usable cannabis and cannabis induced products adverts and labels sold in Washington state from having statements and/or illustrations which are of the following nature;

Encourages over consumption by not warning the users of its effect.

Falsely motivated and misleading the targeted public.

Portraying cannabis as cure or therapy medicine.

Lure minor below 21 years to cannabis consumption. This can be promoted through use of cartoons, toys and characters.

Advertisement locations– Among the rules that are keen in marketing of cannabis is the locations where you should place or maintain your usable or cannabis-infused products advertisement. The law restricts the advertisement in some places which includes:

Anywhere within a radius of one thousand feet from facilities such as recreation centre, school grounds, child care centre, or any place that does not restrict minors of 21 years and below.

Any property owned or operated by public.

All public service vehicles.

Warnings accompanying the advertisements- During your marketing, you should ensure that you attach the following warnings to all usable and cannabis-infused products:

Age bracket of cannabis users. I.e. only users with 21 years and above are allowed to consume the cannabis related products.

Effects of cannabis consumption which includes impairing of concentration, coordination and judgement. Also you should warn the users against operating vehicles and machinery under the influence of the drug.

Additionally, online marketing which comprises of company websites and social media are not left unregulated. For website, advertising,your company is allowed, however, selling of cannabis via the website is illegal. The law also allows you to use social media to advertise your company while seriously minding not to appeal to minors under 21 years. Moreover, with the use of websites and social media advertisement, the above-mentioned general laws apply.

Undoubtedly, if you make considerations to the laws and regulations above when marketing your cannabis, you will escape the wrath of the law.

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana use in 2014, Washington has seen the number of marijuana dispensaries increase steadily. This is due to the increase in demand for the supply of quality marijuana in a clean and safe environment. However, though weed is a social drug, most users would not feel comfortable conducting their transactions in the publicly.

This has created opportunities for online social platforms to emerge and fill the gap between consumers and dispensaries. Because of advertising laws traditional marketing doesn’t work for dispensaries and you need to use the right platforms to market your dispensary, here are some of the best places on the internet.

Weedmaps is the google maps for medical dispensaries and has become the go-to dispensary finder in most of the legalized states. It works by mapping all the local dispensaries and providing necessary information regarding each. This includes reviews by previous users, pictures of the strains available, prices of the strains, and it also has a forum thus enhancing community participation.

2. Leafly

With over 40 million page views in a month, Leafly is the largest marijuana related website in the world. It has a large database of marijuana strains and dispensaries available. It also has location capabilities that enable users to find the nearest dispensary depending on their zip code. Further data on the dispensaries is also provided, including photos and videos, types of strains available and their prices and the location. Leafly also gives users the opportunity to rate the dispensary using a star system.

3. Best Buds

Best Buds is an application that does most of the things already mentioned on the list, however, it has one unique characteristic that makes it stand out. Best Buds acts as a rewards program that allows users to accumulate reward “punches” for buying a particular strain or at a particular store. This app also enables users to get great deals by using money saving coupons listed on the app.

4. Wikileaf

Founded in 2014, Wikileaf is an online platform that provides local dispensaries the opportunity to showcase their price and products and compete for clients in a reverse auction. It works when a potential client post how much they are willing to spend on their next dispensary visit, and the local dispensaries provide information as to how many grams you would get for that amount.

5. Duby

Duby is the marijuana version of Facebook. It’s a social network where marijuana lovers get to socialize with similar minded people, get credible and up to date content regarding the marijuana industry and gain influence by sharing their “dubys” with hundreds of thousands of people. Though it does not provide dispensary information, owners can help market their dispensaries by being active participants.

This is a website that provides all relevant information regarding the state of marijuana industry. It also has a listing of dispensaries according to their state and area, giving relevant information on each.
With the increasing number of dispensaries offering marijuana to the community at large, you, as a smart owner in the digital age, have to stand out from the rest of the pack by using the right social media platforms to market your dispensary.